Just take it apart and lubricate and clean it annually [...]
I finally got around to servicing my Sprint Atlantic model of this windlass. I couldn't move the gipsy cone or the gipsy itself due to minor corrosion on the bores of those parts. I sprayed some penetrating oil on it and came back the next day with a three-legged puller and I was able to coax it to move and, finally, come off. I doubt that it has ever been apart before, certainly not recently.
The seal below the gipsy cone is in OK condition but starting to get stiff and should be replaced. The bearing and the snap ring are in excellent condition. I would like to take it apart further for more complet inspection so I'm wondering if the mainshaft (item 93 or 95 on the diagram) should just pull out hand hand force (after removing the internal snap ring, item 20) or should I expect to have to rig up a puller to get it out. I depends, I guess, on the closeness of the fit between the bearing and its seat in the baseplate as well as the fit of the mainshaft in the driving gear below. Any thoughts on this?
